Mounting system to support electrical components in a stacked relationship to one another

Abstract

A mounting system using a mounting frame permits the support of up to three printed circuit boards in a stacked fashion. Various cut-outs provide ridge segments to support printed circuit boards at a top, bottom and intermediate plane. Locking devices adjacent selected ridge segments engage the printed circuit boards and hold them in assembly with the mounting frame. The individual printed circuit boards can be coupled to each other employing straight pin headers or employing flexible, flat ribbon cable connected to the printed circuit board traces by suitable connectors.

We claim:  
     
       1. A mounting system to support a plurality of electrical components in stacked relationship to one another comprising: 
       a) a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion and a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel sides so coupled to said first end portion and said second end portion to form a closed box with an open top portion and an open bottom portion;  
       b) said frame having a first plurality of ridges defining a top plane, a second plurality of ridges defining a bottom plane and a third plurality of ridges defining an intermediate plane between said top and bottom planes;  
       c) a first electrical component adapted to be mounted on said frame at said top plane;  
       d) a second electrical component adapted to be mounted on said frame at said bottom plane;  
       e) a third electrical component adapted to be mounted on said frame at said intermediate plane; and  
       f) at least one locking device adjacent each of said top, bottom and intermediate planes to retain thereat associated ones of said first, second and third electrical components, wherein said at least two of said first, second and third printed circuit boards are coupled together by flat, ribbon cable.  
     
     
       2. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first, second and third printed circuit boards are coupled together by flat, ribbon cable. 
     
     
       3. A mounting system as defined in claim  1 , wherein each of said at least one locking device further comprises: 
       a) a flexible shaft coupled to a selected one of said first, second or third ridges;  
       b) a head coupled to a free end of said flexible shaft, said head having an outwardly tapered surface to be engaged by an electrical component to outwardly deflect said head and a flat surface to engage an electrical component top surface after said electrical component passes said outwardly tapered surface.  
     
     
       4. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first electrical component has first cut-outs and first tabs to engage selected ones of said first plurality of ridges. 
     
     
       5. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , wherein said second electrical component has second cut-outs and second tabs to engage selected ones of said second plurality of ridges. 
     
     
       6. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , wherein said third electrical component has third cut-outs and third tabs to engage selected ones of said third plurality of ridges. 
     
     
       7. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , wherein: 
       a) said first printed circuit board has first cut-outs and first tabs to engage selected ones of said first plurality of ridges;  
       b) said second printed circuit board has second cut-outs and second tabs to engage selected ones of said second plurality of ridges; and  
       c) said third printed circuit board has third cut-outs and third tabs to engage selected ones of said third plurality of ridges.  
     
     
       8. A mounting system, as defined in claim  1 , further comprising: 
       a) a mounting column at each of the four corners of said box, each mounting column having a first end surface and a second end surface; and  
       b) two apertures for each of said mounting columns, one extending through said first end surface of said mounting column and a second one extending through said second end surface of said mounting column whereby said frame can be mounted to a support surface.